Vncserver starts with X, so as long as X running, vncserver is also running. Use whatever vnc client you like and connect to 5900 port. Do not try to connect from the server running vncserver, it will create mirror effect.

The default port on which vncserver runs is :1 which corresponds to the the TCP port on which the server is running (where 5900+n = port number). In this case, it is running on 5900+1=5901. Running vncserver a second time will create a second instance running on the next highest, free port, i.e :2 or 5902.

Note: Linux systems can have as many VNC servers as physical memory allows -- all of which running in parallel to each other.

Shutdown the vncserver by using the -kill switch:

$ vncserver -kill :1

Edit the xstartup File

Vncserver sources ~/.vnc/xstartup which functions like an .xinitrc file. At a minimum, users should define a DE to start if a graphical environment is desired. For example, starting xfce4:

#!/bin/sh
export XKL_XMODMAP_DISABLE=1
exec startxfce4

Note: The XKL_XMODMAP_DISABLE line is known to correct problems associated with "scrambled" keystrokes when typing in terminals under some virtualized DEs.

Permissions

It is good practice to secure ~/.vnc just like ~/.ssh although this is not a requirement. Execute the following to do so:

$ chmod 700 ~/.vnc

Starting the server

Vncserver offers flexibility via switches. The below example starts vncserver in a specific resolution, allowing multiple users to view/control simultaneously, and sets the dpi on the virtual server to 96:

$ vncserver -geometry 1440x900 -alwaysshared -dpi 96 :1

Note: One need not use a standard monitor resolution for vncserver; 1440x900 can be replaced with something odd like 1429x882 or 1900x200 etc.

For a complete list of options, pass the -help switch to vncserver.

$ vncserver -help

Running vncserver on physical display (5900 Port)

Basic configuration

Install xorg-server and tigervnc, and and load "vnc" in Xorg configuration.

Connecting to vncserver

Any number of clients can connect to a vncserver. A simple example is given below where vncserver is running on 10.1.10.2 on port 5901 (:1) in shorthand notation:

$ vncviewer 10.1.10.2:1

Passwordless authentication

The -passwd switch allows one to define the location of the server's ~/.vnc/passwd file. It is expected that the user has access to this file on the server through SSH or through physical access. In either case, place that file on the client's file system in a safe location, i.e. one that has read access ONLY to the expected user.

$ vncviewer -passwd /path/to/server-passwd-file

Example GUI-based clients

Securing VNC server by SSH tunnels

On the server

One wishing access to vncserver from outside the protection of a LAN should be concerned about plain text passwords and unencrypted traffic to/from the viewer and server. Vncserver is easily secured by ssh tunneling. Additionally, one need not open up another port to the outside using this method since the traffic is literally tunneled through the SSH port which the user already has open to the WAN. It is highly recommended to use the -localhost switch when running vncserver in this scenario. This switch only allows connections from the localhost -- and by analogy only by users physically ssh'ed and authenticated on the box!

$ vncserver -geometry 1440x900 -alwaysshared -dpi 96 -localhost :1

On the client

With the server now only accepting connection from the localhost, connect to the box via ssh using the -L switch to enable tunnels. For example:

$ ssh IP_OF_TARGET_MACHINE -L 8900/localhost/5901

This forwards the server port 5901 to the client box on port 8900. Once connected via SSH, leave that xterm or shell window open; it is acting as a secured tunnel to/from server. To connect via vnc, open a second xterm and connect not to the remote IP address, but to the localhost of the client thus using the secured tunnel:

$ vncviewer localhost::8900

From the ssh man page:
-L [bind_address:] port:host:hostport

Specifies that the given port on the local (client) host is to be forwarded to the given host and port on the remote side. This works by allocating a socket to listen to port on the local side, optionally bound to the specified bind_address. Whenever a connection is made to this port, the connection is forwarded over the secure channel, and a connection is made to host port hostport from the remote machine. Port forwardings can also be specified in the configuration file. IPv6 addresses can be specified with an alternative syntax:

[bind_address/] port/host/ hostport or by enclosing the address in square brackets.Only the superuser can forward privileged ports. By default, the local port is bound in accordance with the GatewayPorts setting. However, an explicit bind_address may be used to bind the connection to a specific address. The bind_address of ``localhost'' indicates that the listening port be bound for local use only, while an empty address or `*' indicates that the port should be available from all interfaces.

Connecting to a VNC Server from Android device over SSH

To connect to a VNC Server over SSH using your Android device you need:

1. SSH server running on the machine you want to connect to.
2. VNC server running on the machine you want to connect to. (You run server with -localhost flag as mentioned above)
3. SSH client on your Android device (ConnectBot is a popular choice and will be used in this guide as an example).
4. VNC client on your Android device (androidVNC).

Also, if you don't have static IP, you might want to consider some dynamic DNS service.

In ConnectBot, type in your IP and connect to the desired machine. Tap the options key, select Port Forwards and add a new port:

Nickname: vnc
Type: Local
Source port: 5901
Destination: 127.0.0.1:5901 (it didn't work for me when I typed in 192.168.x.xxx here, I had to use 127.0.0.1)

Save that.

In androidVNC:

Nickname: nickname
Password: the password you used to set up your VNC server
Address: 127.0.0.1 (we are in local after connecting through SSH)
Port: 5901

Connect.

Tips and Tricks

Starting and Stopping VNC Server at Bootup and Shutdown

You can find this file at /usr/lib/systemd/system/vncserver.service

/etc/systemd/system/vncserver@:1.service

# The vncserver service unit file
#
# 1. Copy this file to /etc/systemd/system/vncserver@:x.service
# Note that x is the port number on which the vncserver will run. The default is 1 which
# corresponds to port 5901. For a 2nd instance, use x=2 which corresponds to port 5902.
# 2. Edit User=
# ("User=foo")
# 3. Edit and vncserver parameters appropriately
# ("/usr/bin/vncserver %i -arg1 -arg2 -argn")
# 4. Run `systemctl --system daemon-reload`
# 5. Run `systemctl enable vncserver@:<display>.service`
#
# DO NOT RUN THIS SERVICE if your local area network is untrusted!
#
# See the wiki page for more on security
# https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Vncserver
[Unit]
Description=Remote desktop service (VNC)
After=syslog.target network.target
[Service]
Type=forking
User=
# Clean any existing files in /tmp/.X11-unix environment
ExecStartPre=-/usr/bin/vncserver -kill %i
ExecStart=/usr/bin/vncserver %i
ExecStop=/usr/bin/vncserver -kill %i
[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Copying clipboard contents from the remote machine to the local

If copying from the remote machine to the local machine does not work, you need to run autocutsel on the server, as mentioned below [reference]:

$ autocutsel -fork

Now press F8 to display the VNC menu popup, and select Clipboard: local -> remote option.

You can put the above command in ~/.vnc/xstartup to have it run automatically when vncserver is started.